LAST MONTH'S MASSACRE AT SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IS BOOSTING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR TOUGHER MEASURES TO CURB GUN VIOLENCE.

A NEW ASSOCIATED PRESS-GFK POLL INDICATES THAT NEARLY SIX IN TEN AMERICANS WANT STRICTER GUN LAWS -- WITH MAJORITIES FAVORING A NATIONWIDE BAN ON MILITARY-STYLE RAPID FIRE WEAPONS -- AS WELL AS LIMITS ON GUN VIOLENCE DEPICTED IN VIDEO GAMES -- MOVIES -- AND TV.

ACCORDING TO THE POLL -- 58 PERCENT FAVOR STRENGTHENING GUN LAWS IN THE U.S. -- 35 PERCENT SAY THEY SHOULD BE UNCHANGED -- AND 5 PERCENT WANT THE LAWS LOOSENED.

THE POLL ALSO SHOWS A LOPSIDED 84 PERCENT OF ADULTS WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FEDERAL STANDARD ESTABLISHED FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR THOSE BUYING GUNS AT GUN SHOWS.

PRESIDENT OBAMA IS SET TO UNVEIL A WIDE-RANGING PACKAGE OF MEASURES TO REDUCE GUN VIOLENCE.

THE PACKAGE IS EXPECTED TO INCLUDE A PROPOSED BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS -- LIMITS ON THE CAPACITY OF AMMUNITION MAGAZINES -- AND UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS.

MANY OF THE PRESIDENT'S MORE RESTRICTIVE PROPOSALS -- SUCH AS AN ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN -- WILL LIKELY FACE STIFF OPPOSITION IN CONGRESS -- PARTICULARLY AMONG REPUBLICANS.